HOMERS

CRACKDOWN ON SYNTHETICS: Cedar Rapids police will have a new tool in the difficult fight against dangerous synthetic drugs. City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance that punishes sellers, suppliers and customers for handling improperly marketed synthetics - which commonly are labeled as innocuous substances such as potpourri or bath salts.

A GOOD IMPRESSION: A recent Cedar Rapids Curling Club event drew athletes and fans of the once-obscure sport from far and wide, including four-time Olympic world champion Debbie McCormick. CedarSpiel attendees included several teams from Chicago, but also from Pittsburgh, Denver, North Dakota and Washington, D.C. 'This is a great atmosphere,” said one traveler, who told The Gazette he never before had been to Iowa. 'Cedar Rapids is a great town, everyone's super nice, the facility's great.”

CLEAN WATER: The Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have joined forces to help farmers adopt conservation practices to reduce the level of nutrients flowing into Iowa waterways from their lands. The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance's mission is to increase farmer awareness, engagement and participation in conservation best practices, and hopes to 'dramatically” improve Iowa's water quality.